• Adverse Effects

Any reduction in environmental quality of a system, or other depletion of the environmental resource capital. Defined in terms of, and measured by, environmental impacts.

• Alternatives

A possible course of action, in place of another, that would meet the same purpose and need (of the proposal).

• Aquifer

A subsurface geological rock formation that has a high-to-moderate permeability and can yield an economically significant amount of water.

• Biodiversity

The variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems. Generally considered at three levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.